Cortical structural differences following repeated ayahuasca use hold molecular signatures.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Serotonergic psychedelics such as ayahuasca are reported to promote both structural and functional neural plasticity via partial 5-HT_2A agonism. However, little is known about how these molecular mechanisms may extend to repeated psychedelic administration in humans, let alone neuroanatomy. While early evidence suggests localised changes to cortical thickness in long-term ayahuasca users, it is unknown how such findings may be reflected by large-scale anatomical brain networks comprising cytoarchitecturally complex regions.

Methods

Here, we examined the relationship between cortical gene expression markers of psychedelic action and brain morphometric change following repeated ayahuasca usage, using high-field 7 Tesla neuroimaging data derived from 24

SUBMITTER: Mallaroni P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10585114 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature